The Grand Cross , of itself, does not mean 'skipped steps'. However, in this case, the Grand Cross does involve the Nodes relative to Pluto, etc, and Venus on the other side via it's opposition to Pluto, etc. And, yes, because of that dominate signature in the 7th starting with Pluto, and it's opposition to Venus, the ongoing Soul struggle of such a couple is about equality in every way where each other's reality in total is equal to the others.

No. In the aspect pattern that you pointed out it would mean that the two souls have had many lives in which they have betrayed one another. So the issue then becomes why ? And how has those former betrayals affected they ability to be together yet again ? And of course why do they keep coming back together given such a history.